On urban roads, bicycle traffic should use cycle lanes, the roadway and specially adapted areas. "Specially adapted areas" means legally established, designated bicycle lanes, those where road signs allow cycling and those where there is some form of explicit authorisation.
These allow bicycles to travel in either direction. You can find examples of this kind of lane on Av. Diagonal, from Pl. Francesc Macià to Palau de Pedralbes, and on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes from Pl. Espanya to Av. Carrilet.
These allow one-way traffic. You find them on the tree-lined avenues along Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, between Pl. Espanya and C. Aribau, and between C. Pau Claris and C. Marina, as well as those on Av. Diagonal, Pg. de Gràcia and C. Sicília.
These allow bicycles to travel in either direction. They are usually on the left-hand side of the road, seen from the direction of other road traffic (C. Calàbria, C. Marqués de Sentmenat, C. Urgell, C. Sicília, C. Provença, C. Teodor C. Llorente, etc.). This means that cyclists travelling in the opposite direction to motor vehicles are better protected. This type of lane can also be found in the middle of the roadway, like on Pg. de Sant Joan or Av. Paral·lel.
These can be with traffic flow (such as those on Av. Diagonal - Francesc Macià - Pg. de Gràcia, C. Diputació and C. Consell de Cent) or contra-flow, used especially in bicycle streets with 30 kph speed limits to allow contra-flow bicycle traffic. Ctra de la Bordeta and C. Jota are two examples.
Find the best route to get to your destination. Consult the bike lanes and other thoroughfares, the Bicing stations and locking points and other types of parking places for bikes.
